Anonymous. c. 1250
1. Cuckoo Song
1 min to read
65 words

SUMER is icumen in,   Lhude sing cuccu! Groweth sed, and bloweth med,   And springth the wude nu—           Sing cuccu!

Awe bleteth after lomb,   Lhouth after calve cu; Bulluc sterteth, bucke verteth,   Murie sing cuccu!

Cuccu, cuccu, well singes thu, cuccu:   Ne swike thu naver nu; Sing cuccu, nu, sing cuccu,   Sing cuccu, sing cuccu, nu!

lhude] loud. awe] ewe. lhouth] loweth. sterteth] leaps. swike] cease.

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Anonymous. c. 1300
2. Alison
1 min to read
315 words
Return to The Oxford Book of English Verse, 1250–1900






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